Members of the National Transportation Safety Board and FBI agents walk the runway looking for evidence from the UPS Flight 2976 MD-11 that crashed in November at the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville, Ky. The NTSB hearing began Tuesday morning in Washington, D.C. File Photo by John Sommers II/UPI | License Photo
May 19 (UPI) — The National Transportation Safety Board began its two-day hearing on Tuesday on the deadly UPS cargo plane crash in Louisville, Ky., that killed 15 people on Nov. 4.
The NTSB released the agenda of the hearing as soon as it began at 8 a.m. EDT in Washington, D.C. The hearing will continue to 6 p.m. Tuesday, and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at the NTSB Boardroom and Conference Center in Washington.
The NTSB has investigative hearings to find the facts and circumstances of transportation accidents or incidents under investigation, a press release said. The hearing is open to the public, but only NTSB board members, investigators, witnesses and parties to the hearing are allowed to participate.
The crash is the deadliest in the history of UPS. All three crew members on UPS Flight 2976 died, as well as 12 others on the ground, several of whom were working or shopping at nearby businesses. The crash also injured about 23 others.
The NTSB’s preliminary report showed that fatigued and overly stressed connecting pylons likely caused the left engine to detach from the McDonnell Douglas MD-11. The engine fell from the aircraft as it was taking off from the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. The aircraft crashed into the ground and burst into flames. The fully fueled flight was intended for Honolulu.
The preliminary report said cracks caused by fatigue and signs of excessive mechanical stress were found in the pylon that connected the left engine to the wing. The plane was 34 years old and had recently undergone maintenance in San Antonio.
The engine-mounting hardware was last inspected in October 2021. It wasn’t due for another inspection until the aircraft completed 7,000 more flights, the NTSB said. The preliminary report showed no apparent pilot errors.
The NTSB invited several groups to participate in the hearing: the Federal Aviation Administration, UPS, The Boeing Company, GE Aerospace, Teamsters Airline Division, Independent Pilots Association and Collins Aerospace.
The hearing panel includes accident investigators and engineers. They will hear from nine witnesses on Tuesday. A new panel will hear from four witnesses from the FAA and Boeing on Wednesday.
In January, UPS announced it was retiring all MD-11 planes and was reducing its workforce by 30,000.
Vice President JD Vance speaks during a news conference on anti-fraud initiatives in the Indian Treaty Room of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House on Wednesday. Photo by Daniel Heuer/UPI | License Photo
A physics teacher has shed light on the hidden dangers of inflating your life jacket inside an aircraft cabin during an emergency – it could have deadly consequences
Cabin crew demonstrate how to inflate a life vest – but you should never do this while inside the aircraft (stock image)(Image: Hispanolistic via Getty Images)
A physics teacher has explained the “horrific” risks that come when a life jacket is inflated by a person who’s still onboard a plane. When boarding any flight, the cabin crew run through a comprehensive safety briefing explaining to passengers where the emergency exits are, how to secure their seat belts, where to locate and how to utilise oxygen masks, how to operate life jackets, and more.
Life jackets are typically kept in a compartment beneath your plane seat. It’s crucial to only ever inflate the vest once you’ve exited – and are away from – the aircraft, by pulling down firmly on the red toggles. But why shouldn’t you inflate it while you’re still inside the plane?
Some people think it’s related to efficiency and movement – wearing an inflated life vest could make it more challenging and awkward to navigate through the aircraft.
There is some validity to that but the real reason is to prevent a far more alarming consequence. A physics teacher took to YouTube to clarify this in depth.
The footage shows a split screen, with the teacher at the bottom and demonstration clips in the upper portion to offer additional insight and understanding.
There was a clip of a plane passenger sitting in his seat who inflated his life jacket. The teacher began: “This passenger inflated his life vest during the safety briefing. But that was the exact death trap of some passengers on the Ethiopian Airlines flight.”
She then discussed the notorious hijacking of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961, which was seized while travelling from Addis Ababa to Nairobi by three Ethiopians seeking asylum in Australia. The aircraft crash landed in the sea and, of those aboard, 125 out of 175 died – including all three of the hijackers.
The teacher elaborated: “This aircraft was hijacked in 1996 and was forced to crash land in the ocean after running out of fuel. So during the chaos, some passengers panicked and inflated their life jackets inside the cabin.
“But why is that such a big deal? Think about how these vests inflate instantly using compressed carbon dioxide from that tiny cartridge. So the moment it inflates, it makes you buoyant – but isn’t that its job?”
This is where matters take a “horrific” turn. The teacher explained: “It is, but you don’t want it to do that inside of the cabin when the cabin gets flooded because you won’t be able to dive down and swim out of the aircraft.
“Instead, those passengers were pushed upwards by the water and got pinned to the ceiling. They were trapped by the very thing that was designed to save them.”
In the comments section, fellow YouTube users were keen to offer their perspectives. One person said: “No matter how good a tool is, it can be dangerous if not used properly.”
Another said: “What’s worse is that some people can end up preventing others from escaping because they don’t listen to the safety rules”.
A third person said: “It’s also a hindrance when moving through the narrow seat rows and crowded aisle.” While a fourth commented: “Panic really changes how people react in those moments!”
Another shared: “Thanks for the explanation! I was honestly confused why inflating life vests inside the plane was wrong. But this makes sense!”
Someone else added: “I was thinking that the inflated life vest would make it harder to move through the inside, but the actual reason is much more horrific”.
US Air Force footage showed the rescue of 11 people after a private plane from the Bahamas crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off Florida. Survivors were found in a life raft as a storm approached and were airlifted to hospital.
Flight FR9251 was forced to land in Toulouse with almost 200 people on board
The London Stansted to Ibiza flight was forced to land in France (stock image)
Ryanair has issued a ‘no fly’ warning following an incident in which a plane carrying nearly 200 passengers was forced to make an emergency diversion. The disruption took place aboard a flight from London Stansted to Ibiza.
Flight FR9251 was diverted to Toulouse after two passengers turned ‘abusive towards fellow passengers’. The incident unfolded on 17 May 2025, with the case only recently being settled in court.
In an online statement headed ‘Bad behaviour won’t fly’, the budget carrier said: “On May 17 2025, two passengers became abusive towards fellow passengers on a flight from London Stansted to Ibiza and failed to comply with crew instructions, forcing over 84 passengers and six crew to divert to Toulouse.
“These two disruptive passengers were found guilty, and both received suspended sentences of up to 10 months, and received a combined penalty of over 10,000 Euros.
“On May 7, 2026, Ryanair welcomed the decision by the Toulouse Criminal Court to convict these two unruly passengers. Ryanair has a strict zero-tolerance policy towards passenger misconduct and will continue to take action to combat unruly passenger behavior on aircraft for the benefit of the vast majority of passengers who do not disrupt flights.”
Under the Air Navigation Order 2016, a person ‘must not enter any aircraft when drunk, or be drunk in any aircraft’. It goes on to state: “A person must not, when acting as a member of the crew of any aircraft or being carried in any aircraft for the purpose of acting as a member of the crew, be under the influence of drink or a drug to such an extent as to impair their capacity so to act.”, reports Glasgow Live.
Addressing the incident on board, Ryanair’s Jade Kirwan said: “We welcome this decision by the Toulouse Criminal Court to convict these two disruptive passengers and sentence them with up to 10 months jail time and to pay a penalty of over €10,000.
“It is unacceptable that passengers – many of whom are heading away with family or friends to enjoy a relaxing summer holiday – suffer unnecessary disruption and reduced holiday time as a result of unruly passenger behaviour.
“Yet this was regrettably the case for passengers on this flight from Stansted to Ibiza in May last year, which was forced to divert to Toulouse as a result of two passenger’s disruptive behaviour.
“This conviction demonstrates just one of the many consequences that passengers who disrupt flights will face as part of Ryanair’s zero tolerance policy, and we hope this action will deter further disruptive behaviour on flights so that passengers and crew can travel in a comfortable and respectful environment.”
A Frontier Airlines plane has hit and killed a person at Denver’s international airport, prompting the evacuation of passengers. Authorities say the man jumped a perimeter fence and ran in front of the plane as it was taking off to Los Angeles.
As airlines have been granted a green light to consolidate or cancel flights with just two weeks’ notice, experts have warned of inevitable chaos this peak holiday season
16:30, 05 May 2026Updated 16:51, 05 May 2026
Holidaymakers have been warned to take extra caution ahead of the upcoming summer season.(Image: Yui Mok/PA Wire)
Summer is well and truly in the air, but Brits looking ahead to their well-deserved week in the sun have been warned to take extra caution.
As the price of jet fuel has risen by 120 per cent since the start of the conflict in the Middle East, there are concerns of shortages in the coming months. Airlines have already hiked ticket prices, but further disruption is expected unless the Strait of Hormuz reopens soon.
Before the conflict, Europe as a whole had about 37 days’ supply of available. Now, this is likely to have dropped to 30 days, with the International Energy Agency (IEA) warning that 23 days is the critical point at which some airports would run out of fuel.
Now after airlines were granted a green light to consolidate or cancel flights with just two weeks’ notice, experts have warned that the traditional protections for those with additional needs are under threat. Crucially, the European Commission has signalled that disruptions caused by the ongoing Middle East fuel crisis will be filed under “exceptional circumstances,” meaning holidaymakers may be unable to claim any financial compensation if their flights are changed.
Travel expert Declan Somers, CEO of Mobal, warns that the biggest risk this summer isn’t just chaos at airports, but how passengers might be split. As airlines merge flights to conserve fuel, families who booked together may find themselves rebooked onto replacement aircraft where they are scattered across the cabin.
Notably, there is no UK law that requires children to be seated with their parents on a plane. Airlines can legally separate even those under five from their parents, although this would be against Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) guidelines. The CAA says: ‘Young children and infants who are accompanied by adults should ideally be seated in the same seat row as the adult. Where this is not possible, children should be separated by no more than one seat row from accompanying adults. This is because the speed of an emergency evacuation may be affected by adults trying to reach their children.” “
If airlines start consolidating flights, a family of four ‘may be rebooked onto the same replacement flight but not necessarily seated together,” Somers cautioned.
While UK guidance suggests airlines should aim to seat children near parents, there is no absolute guarantee. To mitigate this, Somers urges parents not to treat seat selection as optional: “Book directly with the airline, pay for seat selection, and call immediately to have assistance notes attached to the PNR (Passenger Name Record).”
The situation is even more precarious for those with disabilities or complex medical requirements. Travel expert Alexandra Dubakova warns that emergency rebookings often fail to account for specialised needs, such as extra legroom for mobility or specific seating for medical equipment. “There might be cases of passengers being de-boarded or rebooked again because the replacement aircraft lacks the specific configurations they originally paid for,” Dubakova explained.
She warns of a significant “erosion of consumer rights,” noting that under “exceptional circumstances,” airlines are under less financial pressure to provide their usual level of care. For those requiring special assistance – such as storage for crutches or priority boarding – Scope guidance mandates booking at least 48 hours in advance. However, with last-minute aircraft swaps expected, these pre-arranged protections are no longer a certainty.
The disruption is expected to hit hardest at smaller regional airports, which lack the on-site fuel storage of major hubs like Heathrow. Dubakova describes these smaller airports as the “canary” in the coal mine. For families and disabled travelers, the advice is to “build in a buffer.”
Experts suggest choosing the first flight of the day, flying from larger hubs where possible, and ensuring all medication is planned at least four weeks in advance. UK airlines have previously insisted that they are not currently facing supply issues, while the Government will also work with the sector to act quickly if needed.
Europe’s leading budget airlines remain confident they will be able to keep flights running as usual throughout the peak holiday season ahead. Jet2, easyJet and TUI have all committed not to impose any additional charges on passengers due to fuel price increases.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “There are no immediate supply issues, but we’re preparing now to give families long-term certainty and avoid unnecessary disruption at the departure gate this summer. This legislation will give airlines the tools to adjust flights in good time if they need to, which helps protect passengers and businesses. We will do everything we can to insulate our country from the impact of the situation in the Middle East.”
It’s understood that British Airlines would not allow to children sit alone away from their parent, with the team pre-seating families on the same Passenger Name Record (PNR) to ensure all those under 12 years old are seated with at least one adult on the same record. As per the BA website: “If you don’t choose your seats in advance, we always do our best to seat your family together based on flight seat availability. This may mean that you’ll be seated in adjacent rows or across the aisle. All children under 12 will be seated with an accompanying adult.” Tui and Virgin Atlantic also offer similar reassurances on their websites.
Meanwhile, as per the Ryanair’s Family Seating Policy, detailed on the company website: “For family bookings, children (aged 2 to 11 years) receive free reserved seating so they can sit beside a parent. When an adult purchases a reserved seat they can select up to 4 children’s seats beside them free of charge. If an adult selects a reserved seat outside of specific rows (depending on aircraft) they must pay the price difference. Similarly, if a seat is selected for a child outside of these rows, they will be charged the full reserved seat price of these seats.”
The easyJet website warns families who leave check in until the last minute may not be guaranteed sears next to each other, however, staff will “still make sure each child under 12 is seated close to an adult on your booking” An easyJet spokesperson told the Mirror: “easyJet is not seeing any disruption to fuel supply. We continue to operate our flights and package holidays as normal and are not making changes or cancellations. We remain in close contact with suppliers who continue to provide uninterrupted supply and are diversifying exporting from additional countries globally to bolster supplies going forward.”
Kenton Jarvis, CEO of easyJet, said: “I want our customers to book with confidence this summer. We are operating as normal and are not making changes or cancellations and we are looking forward to taking millions of people on their well-deserved holidays this summer.”
Do you have a story to share? Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com
He however says there are some seats that he refuses to pick on a plane, because they get his journey off on the wrong foot. Among those are any middle seat, which he says results in a “battle” for personal space.
In a video on his Wolter’s World YouTube channel, Mark revealed the first row of the plane is “one of the worst”. He said: “One thing is, you have a bulkhead (wall) there.
“That first row, you don’t have the underseat storage in front of your space, so you have to make sure you get your stuff up above, but also you have no room to stretch your legs out because there’s not that underseat there, so sometimes you don’t have a tonne of space.
“But the really tough thing is, going back to the luggage, or lack of luggage space. If you’re flying in Spain, when they get on the plane, they put their bags in right away.
“They don’t wait to row 20. If you’re in row one or two, maybe you’re going to have to go to row five or six to put it up above and nobody’s going to let you go get it when it’s time to get out, which can be very frustrating.”
Mark went on to explain that the front of the plane often has the lavatory or the galley. And while he avoids sitting on the front row, Mark isn’t overly fond of the back either.
This is because you can often find yourself queuing to disembark the aircraft. He said: “If you have tight connections, guess what? You are the last one off the plane. And for my friends who do not like turbulence, if you’re in the very back of the plane, this is where the turbulence is.”
Mark says that the back, much like the front, can often be where the facilities are. In general he says he likes to avoid any seat next to the toilet, because you can “hear or smell” what is going on.
He also generally says he avoids sitting near to the galley, because it is “where the flight attendants work”. He explains this means the lights are constantly on and the area regularly “smells of food”.
He described the galley as “not really a quiet relaxing place,” which makes it more difficult to enjoy his flight. Elsewhere, Mark explains the exit rows are the “best” seats to sit in.
He said: “Those exit rows are the best for legroom because the extra row needs to be wider for exits, so it’s kind of like business class legroom for economy prices.”
A small plane carrying five people crashed into a residential building in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, shortly after takeoff, killing three and leaving two others hospitalised. The aircraft went down minutes after departing Pampulha Airport, with no injuries reported among residents on the ground.
A plane passenger claimed their flight was delayed by an hour because of one other passenger’s selfish act – and it had devastating consequences for people’s travel plans
13:17, 04 May 2026Updated 13:17, 04 May 2026
One passenger managed to delay a flight by an entire hour (stock photo)(Image: Tunvarat Pruksachat via Getty Images)
Finding out your plane is delayed can be a nightmare. No one wants to hang around in an airport for any longer than they need to, especially if you’re trying to go and enjoy a holiday, or aching to get back home. Delays can also be frustrating if you have a connecting flight, as you could end up missing your next plane.
The most common cause for flight delays is weather conditions, which neither the airport nor the airline can control. But one woman on social media was left furious when her plane was delayed by an entire hour – just because of another passenger causing an issue with the flight attendants.
Cassandra Saunders was already sitting in her seat on the flight from Los Angeles, California, to Tampa, Florida, when the incident began, and filmed herself so that she could capture the audio of the fellow passenger complaining to a flight attendant. The passenger was complaining that he couldn’t sit next to his fiancée as they hadn’t booked seats next to each other, and the flight attendant was trying to tell him that he couldn’t just sit in someone else’s seat.
In the video, which was uploaded to Instagram, the man’s voice can be heard asking the flight attendant how he can switch seats, to which she replies he will have to ask the person sitting in the seat he wants to move to. She adds the cabin crew can’t do anything to move people out of their designated seats.
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The man continues to argue, saying there was no one currently in the seat he wanted to sit in, but the flight attendant says boarding hadn’t finished yet. The conversation continues, with Cassandra writing on her clip that the argument delayed their flight by an hour.
She wrote: “My intuition already knew this guy was going to be a problem. This dude delayed our flight by an hour. He kept going to the back and wasn’t respecting the flight attendant’s instructions.”
In the caption, Cassandra said the row over seating meant some passengers were at risk of missing their connecting flights and having their travel plans ruined – and she only made her connecting flight with a mere five seconds to spare after racing through the airport when they eventually landed.
She posted: “Travelling is already chaotic, and this couple was being inconsiderate to everyone on the plane, delaying us by an hour. Several passengers asked them to get off because people had connecting flights. But all he seemed to care about was sitting next to his fiancée. The flight attendant did a great job in handling it. I made it to my connecting [flight with] five minutes to spare – I ran!”
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Cassandra later posted the second part of the passenger’s argument with the cabin crew, in which another male voice is heard ordering the passenger to get off the plane. The man’s fiancée is then apparently heard trying to convince the plane staff to let her partner stay on the flight, but is told she is welcome to leave with him.
Adding more context to what happened, Cassandra wrote: “They had a full conversation while everyone was waiting on them. The [fiancée] stayed and then five minutes later decided to get off the plane.”
Commenters on the video were gobsmacked by the “entitlement” of the couple, with many saying that sitting next to someone for a couple of hours on a domestic flight isn’t worth being delayed by an hour. Others said they should have been kicked off the flight sooner, arguing that an hour is far too long to have allowed the dispute to go on.
One person said: “If you want to make sure you’re next to your partner, pay the extra fees and make sure you book the seats together.” Another added: “Any conversation longer than 10 minutes should have been had outside the gate.”
A third fumed: “An HOUR?!!! Nah, they didn’t do their job. Get him off immediately.”
April 29 (UPI) — Two people are dead and 10 are injured after a small plane crashed into a hangar Wednesday at an airport in Adelaide, South Australia.
News.com.au reported that the two people killed were in a Diamond DA42 two-engine plane, while one person who’d been in the hangar sustained life-threatening injuries, two were in serious condition, six others had smoke inhalation and one sustained minor injuries.
The plane burst into flames after it crashed at Parafield Airport, the BBC reported. Photos of the scene showed a large plume of black smoke rising from the area, and other witnesses reported seeing the plane struggling overhead before the crash.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has started an investigation into the incident.
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas said on social media that the fire had been extinguished and the airfield was closed.
He said his “thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those who have passed away, and with everyone affected by this devastating event,” the BBC said. He also thanked first responders for their response.
The airport has several flight training schools and has a large amount of aircraft traffic. News.com.au said the plane involved was used for student training, but Chief Inspector Andrew McCracken could not say if the pilot Wednesday was a student.
In January, a student pilot crashed during takeoff at the airport, but although the plane caught fire, the pilot escaped unharmed.
Sheridan Smith has revealed she was once kicked off a flight for ‘being too drunk’Credit: Shutterstock EditorialSheridan revealed all to Alan Carr on his podcastCredit: Life’s a beach podcastThe star said cabin crew ‘left her in Florida’Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Talking on Alan Carr‘s Life’s a Beach podcast, the host asked the much-loved star: “Have you missed flights before and all that?”
Replying, Sheridan, who is currently starring in BBC One’s The Cage, said: “Yeah. I went to Florida to watch my mate boxing.
“And they wouldn’t let me on the flight Alan.”
The Chatty Man star then asked her: “Why? Too drunk. Oh, God.”
In the same chat with Alan, Sheridian admitted to having a fling with stuntsman Alex AnlosCredit: Instagram
The actress played Erin, a woman who goes to Fiji to investigate the disappearance of her sister Lori, in the 2023 drama that aired on Paramount+ and was filmed in Greece.
Spilling the tea, she told host Alan: “I did have a holiday romance actually. I was filming in Greece and the stuntman – I’m giving so much away – he taught me to swim, so he was holding me.
“And the next thing we did have a bit of a romance – it’s an exclusive!
“It’s so romantic and it’s the heat and the bodies are all out!”
At the time of filming, Sheridan posted a picture with Alex, which she shared on her Instagram stories.
In the cosy snap, the pair were all smiles as they posed for the behind the scenes picture.
She had penned over it: “Hanging out after stunt rehearsals with @that_stunt_dude Greece. This guy has made me look bad ass.”
Sheridan also shared another photo of them both on her feed as she captioned it: “Love filming here in Greece. With my set bff @that_stunt_dude. I was a non-swimmer till we met!”
A flight attendant has shared several plane safety tips that could make your next trip more comfortable – including the one item you should absolutely never wear
The flight attendant urged people never to wear one thing (stock photo)(Image: GETTY)
You could be picking up all sorts of germs by wearing the wrong clothes on a flight.
When travelling by plane, whether it’s for a work trip or holiday, you usually want to be as comfortable as possible. No matter how long your flight is, sitting in a cramped space surrounded by strangers isn’t ideal, so you normally want to make sure your outfit is something you can feel relaxed in for at least a few hours, if not longer.
But one flight attendant has said there’s one thing you should absolutely never wear on a plane, regardless of how comfortable you think it is. Charity Moore is a flight attendant who regularly posts travel tips on social media, and in a recent video, she shared several things she wishes more people did on flights.
Among her tips, Charity said there’s one thing you should absolutely never wear on a plane, as it puts your body in direct contact with the seats – which aren’t always the most hygienic things to be sitting on.
1. Wear the right clothes
Charity insisted you should never wear anything that exposes your legs on a plane, including shorts and skirts. She advocated for wearing trousers at all times, because she’s seen some “diabolical” things happen on plane seats that aren’t always cleaned as thoroughly as you might like.
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She said: “I am letting you know, from a flight attendant, the amount of things I have seen on the seat. Wear pants. Shorts, skirts, dresses, absolutely not. Wear full pants. None of your skin should be touching that seat. I don’t care if you come on board and disinfect it. Nope, nope, nope. Wear full pants. Trust me, I have seen some diabolical things.”
2. Disinfect the seatbelts
The flight attendant also said that while she often sees passengers using antibacterial wipes on things like the tray table, she hardly ever sees anyone clean the seatbelt – which she believes is the most important part.
She explained: “You guys all come on board with your little Clorox wipes and your little disinfectants, and you start wiping everything down. That little tray table in front of you [and] the back of your seat. I don’t really get why you’re wiping the back of your seat, because if you’re wearing clothes, nothing really touches that.
“What you should be wiping that nobody wipes is that seatbelt. The metal part, because everybody touches it, but also you should be wiping the fabric part of the seatbelt, because everybody pulls on that. The amount of throw up, baby vomit, bodily fluids, liquids that have spilt, and random stuff that ends up on those seatbelts. Wipe them down, babe.”
3. Exercise proper toilet hygiene
Charity claimed that not enough passengers have proper toilet etiquette when using the bathroom on a plane. This includes washing your hands once you’ve done your business, making sure you flush the toilet, and even closing the door behind you once you’re finished.
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While these might seem like obvious things you would do after any toilet visit, whether it’s on a plane or not, the flight attendant insisted a large portion of passengers don’t do them.
She also said if you’ve taken your shoes off at your seat to make yourself more comfortable, you should not go to the toilet without putting your shoes back on.
The attendant noted: “It is never ever water on the floor in the lav. And your socks are like two big sponges.”
4. Bring food
Charity’s final piece of advice is to bring food with you. She said it’s a “huge misconception” that you can’t bring food through security, and encouraged people to bring snacks or even a fully prepared meal with them to help them survive their plane journey.
In the UK, food items and powders are allowed in your hand luggage, but may obstruct images on X-ray machines, so your bags might need to be checked again manually by security, which could cause you delays.
You are generally not allowed to bring liquid or gel-like foods such as soup, sauces, jams, and yoghurts in your hand luggage, and may not be able to bring certain fresh produce, like fruits, vegetables, meat, and dairy, across some international borders, so always make sure you check the rules before you fly.
In most cases, you will be able to bring snack boxes with things like sweets, chocolate, and crisps onto a flight. You should usually avoid packing nuts into your snack box, as you may be asked not to open these if a passenger has an allergy.
There would even be standing desks so people could work in there too, along with power sockets and coat hooks etc.
The airline manufacturer said it would make the most of unused space in the cabin, and make it easier to stay connected especially on long haul flights.
Boeing chief designer Tom Eaton said it could become more like a “mini office”.
He explained: “A space like this can offer so much versatility to help people communicate and remain connected.
“And it is nice to be in a space where you don’t feel like you’re disrupting people.”
It comes as a number of airlines have started rolling out superfast Starlink onboard.
Virgin Atlantic was the first UK airline to launch Starlink WiFi onboard, followed by British Airways.
The Sun’s Assistant Travel Editor Sophie Swietochowski recently tried it out for herself.
Our favourite plane essentials
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Sleep headphones These soft sleep headphones make listening to music much more comfortable, particularly when you are trying to sleep. Built in are two mini speakers that connect to Bluetooth, saving you that horrible discomfort that comes with traditional headphones.
Underseat cabin bag This perfect underseat cabin bag will become your best friend on flights. Plain black, collapsible and barrel-shaped, this bag is designed to slide perfectly into those pesky luggage-sizers at the airport gates. Save yourself the extra baggage fee and come prepared.
Waterproof mobile phone pouch Keep your phone bone-dry and your hands free with this handy waterproof pouch. If you’re splashing in the sea or jumping on a paddle board, your tech will stay safe from splashes. The touch-sensitive screen means you can still snap selfies, too.
Eye mask Trying to sleep on a brightly-lit plane is next to impossible, but napping becomes much easier with one of these. Eye masks can be useful when travelling with kids who need to sleep, as they block out all the light and distractions.
She said: “I didn’t need to pay a penny extra to use it on board my British Airways plane – nor will any other customers.
“The new WiFi model operates differently to its current one. On its typical internet-enabled aircrafts, passengers currently have to create a British Airways account in order to gain access to free messaging services, but that’s not the case for its Starlink aircrafts – a simple click of a button will get you online in seconds.
“Downloading your Netflix shows ahead of travel will become a thing of the past, with high speed streaming enabled, and pre-ordering your Uber ahead of landing will make the overall process of travelling much smoother.
“Personally, I’m most pleased that I could catch up on boring home and work admin, so that it didn’t eat into time in my holiday destination.”
The Aircrafts Interior Expo also had a number of other interesting cabin designs.
An air passenger found a handwritten note in the pocket of her seat and shared it on social media, as she admitted she “couldn’t stop smiling” after spotting it
Alan Johnson Social News Reporter
11:48, 19 Apr 2026Updated 11:49, 19 Apr 2026
An air passenger shared a child’s sweet note she found in the pocket of her seat (stock image)(Image: Getty Images)
A traveller who found an adorable note in the pocket of the seat on their flight admitted she “can’t stop smiling” after posting it online. Taking to Reddit, she shared a snap of the sweet handwritten letter from a “kid who wants to make the world a nicer place”.
“Hello, I don’t know who you are but I sat in this seat before you,” the note began. “I hope you have a good day and a good flight. However, if you are vomiting in this bag I feel for bad for you. I’m writing this message because I am a kid with a goal to make the world a nicer place”.
The child’s note proceeded to request that the “act of kindness” be passed on to create a “chain” of goodwill, meanwhile.
“So please, do an act of kindness today out of the good of your heart and tell the person to pay it forward,” it continued. “This way we can start a chain of good in this world. Have a good day.”
The note clearly struck a chord with numerous other Reddit users.
“This is absolutely adorable, that kid has an amazing goal!” one person declared. “It’s one of my goals too.”
A second exclaimed: “What a great kid! That is the most wholesome note. Hats off to the parents. The world needs more of this.”
A third individual agreed: “Very sweet. Even the kids feel that the world is rotten. Let’s all regardless of our origin heal the world. Let’s all be nice and kind, and it won’t hurt or take anything away from any of us.”
Whilst a fourth gushed: “That’s lovely and also good to see when we live in a world where there is so much selfishness and evil.”
Indeed, the note inspired others to do the same including on Reddit who shared snaps of their own similar gesture.
“Hopefully this helps someone in a bad spot at 30K feet,” they penned. “I was inspired by the internet (thanks Reddit) and wrote a letter on a Barf Bag. Hopefully someone eventually sees this and it makes someone’s day.”
They later added: “It felt really good to put positive vibes out there. Hopefully someone sees it and it brightens whatever mood they are in.”
The note comprised words of wisdom for those suffering difficult times, encouraging any readers to “hang in there”. It continued: “This sucks but will be over soon. Everyone will be able to relate to the misery you are going through. You can do it.”
Long-haul flights can cause in-flight circulation stiffness and fatigue, especially for older travellers
Isobel Pankhurst Audience Writer
03:52, 17 Apr 2026
Senior travellers urged to perform simple task on the plane ‘every 30 minutes’(Image: Westend61 via Getty Images)
Anyone who’s flown long-haul will be acutely aware of the stiffness, exhaustion and sluggish circulation that can develop, potentially marring the start of your holiday. And this is particularly relevant for older passengers.
With this in mind, Inspiring Vacations has teamed up with Melbourne-based Pilates instructor Brittany Tatterson to reveal some movements anyone can perform while still aboard their flight.
She explained: “Seated movements every 30 to 60 minutes are ideal, with the opportunity to stand and walk every one to two hours where possible. Many people wait until they already feel stiff, but by that point the body has already tightened and circulation has slowed.
“The good news is you don’t need to stand in the aisle or take up extra space. The most effective movements are often the smallest and can be done entirely within your seat.”
The discreet in-seat exercises you can do (without anyone noticing)
The first movement Brittany suggests is gently tilting your pelvis forward and backwards, as this can help engage your core and relieve pressure from your lower back.
“You can also keep your toes on the floor and slowly lift your heels up and down to encourage circulation through the legs, which is particularly important on long-haul flights,” Brittany added.
“Breathing is another big one. Inhaling through your nose and allowing your ribs to expand, then exhaling slowly, can help improve both your breathing and overall energy levels.” She also notes that even minor neck movements, such as gentle nods, turns and slight tilts, can alleviate tension that accumulates from screen time and poor posture.
Meanwhile, simply clenching and releasing your glutes can help support your pelvis and ease strain on the lower back without drawing any attention from those around you.
How to move without annoying your neighbour
While these movements are vital for a comfortable journey, Brittany emphasises that they should never come at the expense of those around you.
“Move slowly and mindfully; there’s no rush. Slower movement is not only more considerate, it’s actually more effective for the body,” she says. “The key is to keep everything small and controlled, staying within your own space wherever possible.”
A few simple etiquette rules can make all the difference:
THE latest bizarre plane seat concept has revealed it’s ‘final’ design – but won’t be one if you’re claustrophobic.
First revealed back in 2020, the Chaise Longue Economy Seat would see two layers of seating – essentially double decker rows.
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Double decker seats could one day roll out on flightsCredit: Chaise LongueThe new designs reveal a lot more space for economy travellersCredit: Chaise LongueSome people who tested it said the legroom felt more like business classCredit: Chaise Longue
It’s been designed by Núñez Vicente, who as a then-21-year-old student, created it as a college project.
He was inspired after a flight to Europe, slamming the lack of legroom on offer by budget airlines.
The unusual seating design would – in theory – allow more legroom for passengers as there wouldn’t be a seat directly in front.
Not only that, but reclined seats would also causes fewer problems, as they wouldn’t invade the space of the passenger behind them.
Overhead lockers would be replaced with compartments under each seat – so no battling for space there either.
Other future designs could include lie flat beds even in the middle.
However, some have cited concerns over the claustrophobic designs, as well as it being just another way airlines will cram more seats into the cabin.
Despite this, Mr Vincente said that the designs were not “a joke on the internet” but a real project he wants to get rolled out.
His latest designs were revealed at this year’s Aircraft Interiors Expo in Germany, a huge aviation show that takes place every year.
He told CNN Travel that this was their “best” design and would be as much as they could design as a small start up.
Not only that, but he said he was often consulting with airline bosses in regard to one day rolling these out – last year Airbus said they were “exploring early stage concepts”.
Despite this, the latest design has added slightly more legroom – meaning they are unlikely to remain as a basic economy prospect.
He added: “We have been moving the concept towards more of a premium economy experience.
“We have met directly with airlines and airline executives, CEOs and their customer experience departments, and they told us exactly what they wanted – and they wanted this seat to be something more than just economy.”
Tests conducted by fake passengers earlier this year praised the product, with some saying the lower level seats were closer to a business class seat.
He also maintains that if it did get rolled out – perhaps as an option in the middle of the plane, with other standard premium seats on either side – it could trickle down to economy,
What we REALLY think of these new plane seats
The Sun’s Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey weighs in.
We all know airlines are looking at ways to fit more passengers onboard to squeeze even more money out of us.
At first glance, these double decker seats seem exciting – I hate having someone recline their seat straight into my face.
Not only that but more space for my bags and legs is always a win.
But they feel much too small to be comfortable for anything on a long flight.
And having someone clamber down from above me seems like all kinds of hell.
There is already huge problems when it comes to emergency evacuations on planes as well, with passengers trying to get their bags against safety advice.
Most airlines have to be able to be evacuated in 90 seconds – I highly doubt this would work.
Another airline is launching their own version of double decker economy seats – but as bunk beds.
*If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue.
Sleep headphones These soft sleep headphones make listening to music much more comfortable, particularly when you are trying to sleep. Built in are two mini speakers that connect to Bluetooth, saving you that horrible discomfort that comes with traditional headphones.
Underseat cabin bag This perfect underseat cabin bag will become your best friend on flights. Plain black, collapsible and barrel-shaped, this bag is designed to slide perfectly into those pesky luggage-sizers at the airport gates. Save yourself the extra baggage fee and come prepared.
Waterproof mobile phone pouch Keep your phone bone-dry and your hands free with this handy waterproof pouch. If you’re splashing in the sea or jumping on a paddle board, your tech will stay safe from splashes. The touch-sensitive screen means you can still snap selfies, too.
Eye mask Trying to sleep on a brightly-lit plane is next to impossible, but napping becomes much easier with one of these. Eye masks can be useful when travelling with kids who need to sleep, as they block out all the light and distractions.
Anyone planning on boarding a plane with hold luggage has been urged to make one change to their suitcases before they fly – as it will help keep belongings safe
Changing one thing about your luggage could help make it much safer (stock photo)(Image: Jackyenjoyphotography via Getty Images)
Plane passengers need to make one crucial change to their hold luggage. If you’re jetting off and you’ve got bags destined for the plane’s cargo hold, you’ll know just how nerve-wracking it can be to be parted from your belongings. There’s always that nagging worry that your luggage could be lost or stolen before you reach the baggage carousel at your destination, leaving you stranded without clothes, toiletries and other essentials during your holiday.
To tackle this, most travellers will attach luggage tags to their bags. These hold small pieces of paper where you can jot down vital information, such as your email address and phone number, so that should your bag go missing or end up on the wrong flight, airport staff can reach out to you if and when it’s located.
However, one woman on social media has flagged that these tags might not be the most secure option when you’re separated from your bags, particularly as some people inscribe their full name and home address on them.
In a TikTok video, Sammy urged fellow passengers to do something different with their tags, claiming it would help safeguard their personal details from anyone who might attempt to sneak a peek at their information.
She said: “This is something I’ve never seen anyone talk about, and I had to figure it out on my own. This is not safe for you for a plethora of reasons. You have your full name on there, you have your phone number, you have all of your contact information.
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“These will flip over. You’re going to have your luggage, and it’s going to flip over, and anyone who sees it can not only take a photo of it, but also anyone who sees your content online that shows your luggage can get all of your information.”
Sammy described the risk of having your details stolen from your luggage tag as “so dangerous” and “so not worth it”. In its place, she advised opting for a luggage tag featuring a full cover. These typically open like a book and fasten with a popper or Velcro, ensuring nobody can access your personal details without deliberately taking your luggage.
You can also accomplish the same outcome by removing the piece of paper from your tag and flipping it around so your details aren’t visible from the outside. You could then write something along the lines of “information overleaf” or “please turn over” on the blank side facing outwards, so airport staff know exactly where to look should they need to get in touch with you.
Those commenting on the post put forward further alternative solutions, such as listing a dummy email address that you can monitor should you ever lose your luggage, but don’t use for anything else.
One person said: “I have a fake name with my spam email that I’ll check if I ever lose my bag.”
Another added: “I write my name and flight number on the front, then put ‘see reverse for personal details’ with my address.”
A third wrote: “Thank you!! I’ve been saying the same thing for years, and people think I’m nuts. Same with names on kids or pets clothing!”
Should you opt to include only your email address without your name, ensure the email itself doesn’t contain your name within the address.
Using a false name, as one commenter proposed, is not recommended, as should your bag go missing, you won’t be able to verify it’s yours if your ID fails to match the name on the luggage tag. That said, you can choose to display only your surname or initials on the card to safeguard as much of your personal details as possible.
Anyone who has jumped out of a plane with a parachute deserves respect, but to do it 36 times, that’s worthy of a salute.
Saul Pacheco, who turns 88 in November, is sitting in a lawn chair at the Arcadia Invitational with his friends, the starters dressed in red suits who fire pistols to begin races.
That’s when he mentions how he was in the 82nd Airborne Division and jumping out of planes in the 1960s after graduating from Wilmington Banning High and UCLA.
“I was a jump master who became in charge of the parachute troopers,” he said.
Then he talks about becoming a teacher and wanting to return to his alma mater, Banning, which had no openings, so he ends up at rival Carson and coaching the offensive line for Hall of Fame coach Gene Vollnogle for more than two decades. Vollnogle was football coach from 1963 to 1990, winning eight City titles.
Pacheco also became a track starter in 1977. He was already well trained to fire a pistol. It was learning all the rules required in track and field that needed to be mastered.
He apparently did just that, because he’s been at it for 49 years and plans to retire as a track starter this spring. For 25 years, he was a starter for the Arcadia Invitational. Then he became the meet referee to settle any disputes. The respect he has earned can be seen in the way other starters appreciate him for helping them learn the ropes.
He’ll be inducted into the Carson Hall of Fame this fall for his contributions as a coach and athletic director.
His story is pretty amazing. He was one of 13 children. His parents apparently wanted enough siblings to form a football team. His father was a carpenter helping build minesweepers at Terminal Island for the Navy. His mother stayed home and took care of everyone. The first seven kids born were boys. He was No. 5. Imagine the competition for food at dinner time.
“Everbody came in to eat at different times,” Pacheco said. “My mother did a great job having stuff ready.”
But what about 13 children together for Thanksgiving?
“We had a lot of laughs. We all got along.”
Five of the brothers are still alive, including a 90-year-old. All three sisters are alive. One of his brothers, Henry, was football coach at San Pedro for 12 years. Henry was drafted and ended up in the Vietnam War, where environmental issues might have led to the illness, lymphocytic leukemia, that took his life in 1991.
Two of his brothers worked for the LAPD. Two other brothers became firefighters. He has a grandson who’s a deputy sheriff in Riverside.
Pacheco has worked five state track championships and numerous City Section championships.
Like an umpire in football who calls a holding penalty, the only time anyone notices a starter in track is when there’s a false start.
“If there’s a false start, someone complains,” he said.
So why spend 49 years as a track starter?
“The fun part is watching all the athletes compete and being around all the other officials,” he said. “The officials are tremendous and dedicated trying to do a good job.”
All this came out by just happening to stop by and say hello to the starters who are always pleasant and enjoy talking. Unless you ask a question, you’ll never find out about someone’s background.
So why wasn’t Pacheco wearing a red suit like the rest of his friends at Arcadia?
“I brought it just in case,” he said. “I was an alternate.”
Pacheco is always prepared, whether jumping out of planes or teaching life lessons to football players.
